As international cricket returned to the nation, Babar Azam helped Pakistan to a comprehensive win over the World XI in the 1st Twenty20 of the Independence Cup played at Lahore last evening. The home team won the game by a margin of 20 runs.

Batting first, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, and Shoaib Malik played sensible cricket to steer the side to 197 for 5 in 20 overs. Azam made 86 in just 52 deliveries with 10 fours and 2 sixes under his name.

In response, Du Plessis’ World X1 only managed to get 177 for 7 in 20 overs. Sohail Khan, Rumman Raees and Shadab Khan bagged two wickets each for Pakistan.

Babar Azam was adjudged player of the match.

“It was a very important match, after Champions Trophy. No praise is too high for our players, especially Babar Azam, and the way Ahmed Shehzad played, and the way Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim finished the innings. We’ve got some very good players, which is why the selection committee is giving them a lot of opportunities. Our fitness is getting better day after day, and the humidity today was a test of it, and we passed it,” said captain Sarfraz Ahmed.